Beautifully Unbroken (33 page)

“God, Jo, I’m so sorry, so fucking sorry. I’m going to help you, Jo, I promise. Tell me what you see; tell me any signs that you see.” Blake was trying to remain calm but I could sense the fear in his voice.

Again I looked around, desperate for something to show me where I was, but my mind was so preoccupied that I didn’t see the red light that I ran. Spotting an oncoming vehicle, I swerved the car in desperation to avoid hurting anyone else. “Blake!” I screamed just as I hit the curb. Noticing pedestrians I swerved again pressing my foot hard onto the brake pedal. The tyres screeched against the wetness of the road, the car skidding as it veered uncontrollably towards the wall of a small row of shops. In that moment, everything appeared to slow down, my life flashed in front of me as I clung tightly to the wheel, praying for everything to be ok. I screamed out just as the car hit the wall. The phone line went dead.

The airbag had inflated and deflated before I had a chance to notice. It took me a moment to realize that I was still alive. I lifted my shaky arms above the bag that had just saved my life and looked around me. I was alive, I wasn’t hurting anywhere except for my ribs that were most likely bruised from the impact of the bag, but I was alive, that was all that mattered. The car was immediately surrounded by passers-by who tried to help me. It was mayhem as people shouted and called to me but all I could think about was how the hell I had managed to survive yet another ordeal from someone who tried to take my life.

The paramedics checked me over but still insisted that I get checked out at the hospital; no amount of pleading that I did would convince them that I was fine.

I was seen immediately by DR Green, who had looked after me the night I was drugged.

It was kind of nice to see a familiar face, even if it was a doctor who was treating me yet again. I sat impatiently on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to return and tell me that I was well enough to go home.

When the doctor entered the room, he was smiling happily. “You have been a very lucky lady, Miss Summers.”

I smiled. “Again.”

“Indeed.” He nodded as he looked down to the clipboard he was holding. “Your ribs will feel a bit sore for a while but should heal in a couple of days. There are no broken bones, just quite a bit of bruising. Those bags can have quite an impact.”

“Thank you. Can I go now?”

“Miss Summers,” he said, moving his eyes from the clipboard to me. Panic set in, as his eyes seemed to fill with concern.

“About the blood tests that we ran when you arrived,”

“Yes?” I asked, panic stricken.

“Are you aware that you are pregnant?”

The whole world stopped turning at that precise moment. I must have been hallucinating, surely? How could I be pregnant? It was impossible.

“I’m … what?” I asked, frozen.

“That’s what I thought.” He smiled. “One of the routine bloods that we ran showed a very high level of HCG, confirming that you are indeed with child. You will, of course, need to book in for an ultrasound to determine the gestation, seeing as you are unaware.” He smiled.

“But I’m on the pill. This is impossible; are you sure?”

“Have you maybe been ill? Or late taking your pills? Any of these factors can contribute in the pill being inefficient.”

“I’m not … I’m, um … I don’t know.”

“I have some leaflets here for you to take home,” he said with a smile. “They should help you with any questions that may arise. For now, however, you will need to stop taking the pill.”

“Could it have harmed the baby? That I’ve still been taking the pill? I’ve even been drinking on occasion.” I felt nausea burn my throat.

“Try not to worry, Miss Summers. There has never been any conclusive evidence to suggest that problems occur from taking the pill while in the early stages of pregnancy. Some people have been known to carry full term without even knowing that they are pregnant.” He smiled.

“I’m pregnant?” I asked again in disbelief as I took the leaflets from him.

“Congratulations, Miss Summers.” He smiled. “I’m sure it will sink in soon.”

“But the crash? Won’t the crash have caused any damage either?”

“Babies are very resilient to the kind of impact you endured. If, however, you experience any pain or spotting, it is recommended that you get checked out as soon as possible.”

“I’m pregnant,” I stated in complete disbelief.

“You are free to go as soon as you are ready; you just need to sign some papers at reception.” He turned and headed out of the room.

“I’m pregnant,” I said again, trying to process the news. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the news. I loved kids, and I knew Blake did too; he had commented at his parents’ that he couldn’t wait for us to have children, but would he feel that this was too soon? We had left things in such a way that I wasn’t sure he would share that kind of enthusiasm any more.

Looking down to my stomach I felt a small smile tug at my lips through the heartache. “So you’re the reason for my twenty-six inch waist then?” I placed my hand to my stomach and immediately felt some sort of protection over the tiny bean that was floating around in there.

I placed the leaflets in my bag and climbed off the bed just as the door flung open and Blake came running towards me. “Thank God,” he said, wrapping his arms around me tightly. “God, thank God you are okay.”

“Ouch,” I moaned, “my ribs.”

“Sorry,” he said, releasing me and looking me over. “I’m so sorry, Jo; I am so, so sorry,” he said desperately.

“So am I,” I sighed. “I’m sorry I ran, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything when I should have. You know that I would never go to anyone over you; you know that.” I cupped Blake’s chin in my hand, my fingers rubbing small circles across his stubble that I adored so much.

“I know you wouldn’t have. I just hate myself for not being there for you when you really needed me. And I hate that it was Cooper who saved you. Even though I do feel grateful to him, I just hate that bastard. But he saved you; I shouldn’t have said what I did, and I’m sorry that I shouted at you,” he said before holding me again, this time carefully.

“I’m free to go now; I just need to sign some papers.”

“So you’re fine? Nothing to worry about?”

I looked into Blake’s eyes. “Just take me home,” I said, dodging the question. I wasn’t sure yet whether he would see my news as worrying.

Blake nodded and took my hand in his. At some point I needed to tell him he was going to be a daddy, but for now I just wanted to get home and lie in his arms until I knew everything was going to be okay.

The police arrived at the apartment shortly after we arrived home from the hospital. They took a statement of everything that had happened to me that evening, and also everything that had happened to me over the past two weeks. Blake sat at the table next to me holding my hand firmly in his as I revealed every detail of what I had been through since Blake had gone to work in Miami. Occasionally I would look up at him. His smile was sad, his eyes full of emotion. Each time we were left alone for a moment while the police interacted with someone back in the office, he would turn to me and apologize over and over again for not being here, for the argument we had had earlier, and most of all for allowing me to run again. What Blake didn’t understand was that nothing that had happened to me was his fault; nothing that ever happened to me was anyone’s fault, except my own.

The police were interacting with officers back at the station to establish the car owner’s identity. They had caught sight of the car on CCTV right here in our apartment building. They were running the checks as we spoke.

“Well, I think we pretty much have everything that we need from you for now, Miss Summers.” The officer who had been speaking to us stood and gathered all of his belongings together. “If there is anything else, or something that you have missed out, don’t hesitate to call us; but for now, I’m sure that you could do with some rest.” He smiled. “The only thing I would suggest is that you stay put. Do not leave this building until we give you the go-ahead, understood?”

I nodded.

“Don’t worry, officer; she won’t be going anywhere,” Blake said.

“We will be in touch.” The officer smiled sympathetically before Blake showed him and his fellow officers to the door.

As the door closed, I was overcome with emotion. Placing my head into my hands as I sat at the table, I cried. I cried for everything that had happened to me during the past two weeks, I cried for how easily I had run again only a few hours ago, and I cried for the baby. I needed to tell Blake now that he was going to be a daddy, but everything else that had happened today made me too scared. Blake would either be happy or mad. If he was mad, I’m not sure how we would deal with it; if he was happy, I would be happy, but then I would be afraid of the pain that always coincided with that feeling. After holding me tightly while I cried as much as I could, Blake prepared us dinner. I wasn’t hungry in the least, but I didn’t have only myself to consider any more. I had a baby to look after now. After dinner Blake ran me a bath and climbed in gently behind me, his arms building a cradle around my body. No word, just actions. Just having his arms around me was more comforting than any words could ever be.

“Blake,” I said eventually, breaking the silence.

“Hmm?”

“Are we going to be okay?” A small sob escaped my lips.

I heard Blake sigh heavily as he pulled me closer to him. He pressed his lips firmly against my neck.

“Of course we are,” he said quietly.

“No matter what happens?”

“No matter what,” he answered.

“I swear I will never keep anything from you again. I promise,” I said as I turned in his arms. Water lapped over the sides as I nestled as close as I could get to him.

“Every time I think of how you must have felt, it kills me,” he said. “Don’t ever keep anything from me again, Jo,” he said sadly. I looked up into his eyes; they were saddened. “I thought you were dead,” he said. “When I heard you scream and the phone cut off …” He scrunched his eyes tight as he remembered the pain. When they reopened, they were full of unshed tears. “I thought you were gone. Just like the night at the club. I have mentally lost you twice now, Jo, and I can’t even explain to you how that feels. But it’s made me sure of one thing.”

“What?”

“I am never, ever, going to lose you again. After everything that has happened today, the past two weeks, since I first met you even, I never, ever, want to experience life without you in it again.”

I sat up and straddled his lap, taking his face into my hands. “I am so sorry,” I said before kissing him. “So, so sorry.” Our mouths clashed as all of the anger, hurt, and love that we both shared came spilling out at once. His hands tightened on my waist as his erection started to press against me.

A loud knock at the door startled us both. “That’s going to be the police,” Blake said, watching me carefully. “Everything is going to be fine, Jo. I promise.” Blake climbed out of the bath and hurried through to the bedroom to change. I climbed out slowly a few moments later. I still hadn’t managed to tell Blake about the baby. I had tried, I really had wanted to tell him, but the words found it impossible to leave my lips. I made myself a promise that no matter what, once the police were gone this time, I would tell Blake about the baby.

My body was already shaking before the police had even told us anything. Once dressed, I headed to the kitchen, where Blake, Detective Grayson (who was leading the investigation), and two different officers that had been at my apartment earlier were all seated around the dining table.

“Miss Summers,” Detective Grayson greeted me. “How are you feeling?”

I nodded. “Okay. Have you found something?”

Detective Grayson looked from me to Blake before focusing his attention back to me.

“Miss Summers, I’m not sure exactly how to tell you this.”

“What is it?” I asked nervously. Blake immediately took my hand as he sat next to me.

“In your statement,” he said as he opened the folder and began reading through the text, “you mentioned a Cooper Henderson?” I nodded in response. “You say he was with you and pulled you from the road as the car approached you at speed.”

“Yes, he saved me,” I answered, confused. “Why?”

“We ran a check on the car that has been pursuing you. The car was rented out two weeks ago from a hire company right here in New York.”

“Okay,” I said, “so you have the name of the person that hired the car from them then,” I stated.

“Yes, Miss Summers, we do. I’m afraid that the person who hired that car two weeks ago was Cooper Henderson.”

“What?” I laughed. “You must be mistaken. Or there must be another Cooper Henderson here in New York. I mean, that’s possible, isn’t it? It can’t be the Cooper I know; how could it be? If he wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have saved me from the car.” I looked from Detective Grayson to Blake. “He wouldn’t have done that; I know him!” I said loudly as everyone else remained quiet.

“Miss Summers. We have a match on MR Henderson’s identity. But I’m afraid there is more. MR Henderson wasn’t working alone. It seems that he has been working alongside somebody else, who wanted you dead.

“That bastard!” Blake slammed his fist to the table. “I should have killed him when I had the fucking chance.”

“We’ve seen this before. Cooper would befriend you; find out what you’re doing, where you’re going, etc. But the whole time, he would be reporting back to whoever else was responsible, planning their next move.”

“He saved my life,” I said quietly as tears started rolling down my face. “He was my friend; he saved my life.”

I felt Blake’s grip tighten on me. “Have you arrested him?”

“Shortly after we discovered that MR Henderson had hired the car, some of our officers went to his apartment to arrest him. He wasn’t there. They did a sweep of his apartment and found numerous pieces of evidence that suggest he had been working alongside a female. Immediately, calls were put out to every officer in the area to keep an eye out for either the black SUV or indeed Cooper’s own vehicle.”